Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 760,269
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at March 31		726,169		$ 760,269
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		760,269	$ 976,399	976,399
Less reinsurance recoverables	[1]	6,851	8,286	8,286
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		753,418	968,113	968,113
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	51,447	56,171
Prior years		(4,316)	(13,504)
Total incurred losses and LAE		47,131	42,667
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	42	65
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		82,046	127,606
Total paid losses and LAE		82,088	127,671
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		718,461	883,109	753,418
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	7,708	8,239	6,851
Balance at March 31		$ 726,169	$ 891,348	$ 760,269
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		11.50%	12.50%	12.00%
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Less reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 6,816
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 7,680		$ 6,816
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		45.00%		42.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		43.00%		40.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For Pre-Foreclosure Stage Defaults		62.00%
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate		81.00%

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default.

[3] Represents ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction.